Spring 2013 Sets Another All-time Enrollment Record At FHSU

HAYS, Kan. — Fort Hays State University, which has been setting records since the turn of the century, has set another all-time record for enrollment in a spring semester.

Enrollment for spring 2013 is at 11,432, which surpasses the enrollment of 10,723 at this point in spring 2012 by 709 students. That is an increase of 6.6 percent, and it does not include late enrollments from China that will bring the total to 12,282.

“Our combination of high quality and affordability has produced tremendous growth each year for more than a decade,” Dr. Edward H. Hammond, FHSU president, said. “China is holding steady because of the quota established by the government there, but we continue to grow in our other two delivery modalities — both on campus and at a distance through our Virtual College.”

As in previous years, final numbers from partner universities in China have been delayed by celebration of the Chinese New Year, which causes their spring semester to start later. Dr. Joey Linn, FHSU registrar and associate vice president for student affairs, said a close estimate of 850 more students would soon be added from China, bringing spring 2013 enrollment at FHSU to the total of 12,282 students.

On-campus enrollment grew by 112 students to 4,417 this year from 4,305 in spring 2012, an increase of 2.6 percent. Virtual College enrollment grew by 592 students to 5,164 from 4,572 students in spring 2012, an increase of 12.9 percent.

“I want to emphasize that we continue to educate increasing numbers of Kansans,” President Hammond said. “We have 6,625 Kansans enrolled this spring, an increase of 425 students, or 6.9 percent, from 6,200 a year ago. In 2010, we had 5,958 Kansans enrolled in FHSU classes. So just in the past three years, the number of Kansans enrolled at FHSU has increased by 667 students, or 11.2 percent.”

Hispanic enrollment has been an area of emphasis for the Kansas Board of Regents. President Hammond noted that the number of Hispanic students enrolled at FHSU grew to 736 this spring compared to an even 700 in spring 2012, an increase of 5.1 percent.

The number of students who identify themselves as African-American also continues to trend upward, with 362 this spring compared to 308 in spring 2012, an increase of 17.5 percent.

Growth also continues to be strong in the Graduate School. The total number of graduate students is 1,922 this spring compared to 1,680 in spring 2012, which is an increase of 242 students, or 14.4 percent. Much of that growth was on campus. There are 468 graduate students in Hays this spring compared to 415 in spring 2012, which is an increase of 53 students, or 12.8 percent.

“It is nice to see increases every year thanks to the hard work by our faculty and staff,” said Linn, who oversees enrollment management. “We are able to maintain the high quality of education at FHSU because everyone is willing to step up and do what needs to be done to serve these larger numbers of students.”